Electrolytic cell.



J} MoPHAIL ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED FE B. 5, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1909.

WITNESSES BY 0 Z Arm/Ma's new and Improved Electrolytic Cell; of'which Reference is to be had to the accompany- 4 section through one of my improved cells. complete; Fig. 2 1s a vertical cross section -or other suitable material, is provided,'the

' Be it known that I, Join: McPHAin'a sub-.

' ,My invention relates-to electrolytic cells,

' a removable diaphragm which may be easily I 'more particularly the electrolysisof [a solufollowing reactions N aCl Na +-Cl; then,

perspective showing a detail of one of the UNITED siriirnsrATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M PIIAIL, OF (.ARTERET, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM BURKE AND ONE-THIRD TO HARRY- R. NELSON, OI OARTERE'I,-NEW JERSEY.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Toall whom it may concern: 1

ject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Carteret, 1n the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptlon.

m more particular pur ose being to produce a cheap and etlicient cel suitable for the'elect-rolysis of metallic salts, and so arranged as to dispose of the gases formed during electrolysls.

More particularly stated, Iseek to construct an electrolytic cell in which there may be brought about a complete separation of the products, with a minimum of undesirable by-products, the cell occupying a comparatively small space and being. simple and easily handled, and also being economical in operation- V My invention further relates t0-the provision in a cell of the character mentioned of renewed 'or changed.

While my invention admits of general use and may be-used in connection with metallic salts of almost any kind, I have in mind tion of common salt (sodium ehlorid) so as to form chlorin gas and sodium, the latter immediately forming, because .of its contact with water, sodium hydrate, according to the -Na+H,,O.=HNaO+H; As .may be seen from these equations, free hydrogen is lib- 'erated, and it is one of the purposes of my invention to make adequate provision for the escape of this hydrogen.

ing drawings forming a part .of thisspecificae tion, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical uponthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1; andv Fig. 3 is a clamps used in the cell.

i' A containing vessel 4 made of iron, slate space within this vessel being the cathode compartment. An overflow pipe 5 is tapped Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 1909. Serial No. 476,235.

Patented July 27, 1909.

then downwardly as indicated in Fig. 1, be mg employed for the purpose of removing portions of the liquid contents of the vessel 4 from time to time. Dis osed-within the vessel 4 and at opposite en sof the same are supporting brackets 6, 7, each of substantially U-shape and secured in position by aid of rivets8. I

. Anetting 9 of steel or other suitable metal, is bent into such formthat its -cross irons 10, each having substantially an L-- shape in cross section. These'angle irons 10 constitute supporting members for the netting 9 and'rest at their ends directly upon the U-shaped brackets "7. I provide two plates 11, 12 of slate, glassor porcelain, and iaving their lower ends roundedas indicated in Fig. 2.

A tube 13 extends throughthe plate 11 I and also through the ofthejvessel 4. Connected with this tubeis a substantially U-sh'aped pipe 14, as -will be understood from Fig. 1. T eouter end ofthe tube 13 isfitted with a brass-"lock nut 13, and with a rubber gasket "13 The inn'er'nd of' the tube 13 is provided with a'hard rubber lockgnut 13 and with a rubber gasket 13 A diaphragm l5, made of a'septum, such as asbestos paper'or asbestos cloth, is placed within the netting 9 and atthe endsof thisdiaplhragmarestrips 1.6-of soft rubber. One of t ese strips is disposed intermediate each-plate 11, 12 and the adjoining end of the diaphragm 15, so as to form a watertight joint.

' The-plates 11, 12, rubber strips 16, diaphragm 15 and netting 9,-together constitute a receptacle which, as a whole, rests within the vessel 4 and has Lno communication therewith except through the'diaphragm 15 and netting 9. At 17 are two clamps of substantially U shape,- these clamps being made of spring steel and-being adapted to par-- tially encircle the plates 11, 12', so .as to grip. tightlythereupon the adjacent ends of the netting 9; and diaphragm 15.

Integral with t evessel 4 and extending u wardly therefrom are portions 4 '(see ,lgn 2-), and mounted upon these portions are lugs 4? which are used for the purpose of into the vessel 4 and is bent upwardly and {preventing displacement of the various removable parts contained 'within the vessel 4. Two plates 18, 18 (see Fig. 1) constitute the top of the inner vessel, these two plates being connected together by an overlap ing joint 18". At 19 are a number of meta lie or carbon anodes which are connected in parallel to a bus bar 20 and extend directly through the plates 18, 18. A wire 21 is co'nnected 'to the. bus bar 20 and serves to supply cur ing the boards 18, 18.

rentto the same. Pipes 22, 23 extend through the plates 18, 18. One of these pipes, say the one numbered 22, is used for supplying into the inner vessel the fluid to be operated upon by the current. i The other cell, when complete, has an anode compart-' ment representing the space inside of the diaphragm 15, and a cathode compartment representing the space intermediate the netting 9 and the vessel 4.

The operation of my device is as follows: The cell being filled or partially filled, for instance with a solution of sodium chlorid, a,

portion of this liquid being inside of the diaphragm '15 and a portionbeing outside of said diaphragm, both portions, of the liquid acquiring, because ofthe porosity of the diaphragm 15, a common level, current is now applied in the manner well known with reference to the operation of electrolytic cells. During the operation of the cell, hydrogen is liberated freely from the netting 9 and from the inner surface of the vessel 4. The liquids contained partly in the anode compartment and partly in the cathode compartment undergo mechanical changes, the sodium hydrate being set free and gradually collectingso that it may be continuously removed. The ipe 5 may, of course, be usedas a brine over ow; that is to say, it can be employed for removing the solution of sodium chlorid from the entire cell whether or not any electrolytic actionhas taken place. The rotund shape of the netting 9 at its bottom (see Figs.

"1and'2) facilitates the free escape of the hydrogen liberated and prevents polarization. Theresult is that the cell attains a high degree of efficiency.

From the above description, it will be'un- A wire 21 is connected di- 'ting form together a portable diaphragm which may be easily removed, cleaned and replaced and used repeatedly.

In the construction of the cell more electric current can be carried in proportion to its size than is the case with most other cells used nowadays. In my apparatus hydrogen is more easily diffused, and chlorates and hypochlorids and the like are less liable to form than in-a cell having a horizontal or vertical diaphragm.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Patentz. I

1. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of a containing vessel, having substantially a rectangular form and provided at its ends with projecting'portions, and an inner vessel mounted within said containing vessel and extending from one end to the other thereof,

said inner vessel being provided ,with portions abutting against said pro ect1ng portions of said containing vessel.

'2. An electrolytic cell, comprising a containing vessel, brackets mounted therein and disposed oppositely to each other, supporting members for resting upon said brackets, a netting connected with said supporting members, a diaphragm disposed adjacent -to said netting, and means for sending .a current throu h said diaphragm and said netting 3. In an electrolytic apparatus, the combination of a containing vessel, a metallic foraminous member disposed therein, slates disposed at the ends of said metallic foraminous member, means for clamping the ends of said slates, and a lining for said metallic member, said lining being made of f brous material to form a diaphragm.

I 4. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of a containing vessel, a pair of supporting brackets mounted therein and supported by oppositely disposed portions thereof, each of said brackets being of substantially U- shape, anda diaphragm having a substantially -U-shape' in cross'section, said diaphragm engaging said supporting brackets.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN McPl-IAIL.

Witnesses:

DE WITT C. WING HELL, W. J. BURKE. 

